The wind howled. The trees blew. Rays of light shone through the window of Mary's bedroom. The young girl looked out the window. It was a full moon tonight.

Sitting down on her bed, Mary looked at her legs. Her nightgown left them exposed. Trails of black could be seen. She fell back onto the rickety bed. Mary turned her head to the rosary on her dresser. Closing her eyes, but was unable to sleep. Her mind was filled with thoughts. Thoughts of the incident.

Mary could only recollect parts of it. No matter how she tried, she could not remember everything. The girl would tell herself that it was probably a good thing. But was it?

'What happened that day?'

Mary furrowed her eyebrows.

'Think, think, think!'

She remembered going into the forest. Walking down the rocky trail and seeing the black beast lying there. Mary remembered seeing something glowing on the beast and reaching for it. She remembered the bright light that had illuminated. She remembered the blood-curdling scream she let out. The pain.

Then, everything was a blur. Mary could remember the terrified looks of everyone. But that was it. The next thing she remembered, she was in her bed. Mary knew something bad had happened. Her physical appearance was proof of it. But what?

"Garrrgh!!" Mary rustled her hair in annoyance. She scowled.

'No matter how hard I try, I can't remember.'
She stood up and grabbed her cloak, which was lying on the floor. Mary put it on. Facing the wooden door, she hesitated on opening it. In the end, she did.

"Mary?" a voice called out to her. Mary gasped, but then sighed in relief.

"Oh, it's you."

Standing across the hall was Allen. He smiled.

"Can't get any sleep either?" The boy asked.

"Yeah." Mary nodded, stepping out into the hall and closing her door.

"The moon...it's really bright tonight," Allen remarked, looking out the window at the end of the hall.

"I know a place where we can see it better," said Mary.

"Really?" Allen's eyes widened, rushing towards the girl. She beckoned him to follow her.

Through the dark forest, the children went. Not a sound, but their footsteps could be heard.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Allen said voice laced with doubt.

"Trust me."

Soon the duo reached a thicket of trees. Pushing past the branches, they reached a clearing.

"Ah....." Allen looked in awe.

There was the moon in all of its glory. Shining brilliantly in the dark navy sky. Its light cascaded the opening like a veil. It illuminated all in its path. In the center of the sky, it was the stars surrounding it, as if to worship the brightness. Mary looked at the light with sadness and nostalgia in her eyes.

"Theresa would always tell me, 'you're as beautiful as the moon', but I never believed it. Especially not now." She could feel the tears forming in her eyes.

"Mary....."

Slowly, Mary took off her cloak. Looking behind her to Allen, she spoke.

"I will never be as beautiful as the moon!"

Allen gasped. His eyes widened. In the center of the opening, she stood. Light shined on her. The boy could see the blackness of her hands, her feet. He could see the marks throughout her body. Mary's hair and nightgown blew in the wind.

Seeing Allen's reaction, she averted her eyes from him in shame. Mary covered her body with the cloak in her hand.

"I should've known it was a bad idea to tell you."

"Mary..."

"I mean, I look awful, don't I?"

"Mary-"

"No one would want me-"

"Mary!"

The blue-haired girl looked back up at Allen. Hot tears streamed down her face. The auburn-haired boy walked towards her.

"Mary, I was just surprised." He continued. "I'm not disgusted by you at all." Allen held on to her arm.

"But—" Mary bit her lip.

"I'm a monster!" She exclaimed.

"So what? Do monsters have to be bad?" He barked back.

Mary's eyes grew wide.

"W-what do you mean?" Her voice shook.

"Just because some people say they're evil doesn't mean all of them are evil." He said.

"It's like how some book authors use tropes differently than they're normally used—" he continued rambling.
Mary stared at him, dumbfounded. She let out a soft laugh.

"Hah." The girl wiped her tears. She smiled at him.
"Book freak."

Allen faked offense. Putting his hand up to his mouth as if he was shocked.

"Hey! I just happen to really, really enjoy reading, that's all."

Mary smirked.

"Uhuh, sure."

They looked at each other.

"I'm....I'm glad you stopped crying," Allen said awkwardly.

"Yeah.....me too."

And then there was silence.

And silence.

And silence.

"..."

"......"

"........."

Mary spoke up.

"I didn't always look like this, you know." She released herself from Allen's grasp and turned around.

"It happened back when I was eight." Mary looked up at the moon.

"Was... was it painful?"

"Very."

Mary paced around the clearing.

"After everything had passed, I never came back here. But, I'm happy I did today."

A gust of wind blew through the forest. Mary shivered. Allen quickly grabbed the cloak lying on the floor.

"Here." He put it on her. The boy paused what he was doing, seeming deep in thought.

"If heaven exists, I'm sure Theresa is watching over you from there."

Mary smiled. "Thanks for the reassuring thought, A."

Suddenly, the two saw glimmers of white falling from the sky.

"Snow!"

They both looked up.

"It's snowing!" Allen exclaimed.

Under the pale moonlight were two children, playing in the soft snow.